The Reds managing director last night unveiled plans for a revamped main stand at their iconic ground, which will add another 8,500 seats to the historic stadium's current 44,000 capacity.

But Ayre claims the building work off the pitch will not be allowed to dent their challenge on it.

Arsenal fans grew frustrated as the Gunners avoided big spending for almost a decade while paying the bills for their £390m Emirates Stadium move.

But Ayre said: "There's never been a discussion that I've been involved with that talks about selling a player to pay for the stadium.

"We actually haven't decided yet which way we'll fund it.

"We're confident we can but we have a range of options and we're still considering them.

"I think it's been very well demonstrated by the management and ownership of the club that we'll do things that are in the best long-term interests of the club.

"So at the time that we have to start paying for it we'll find the solution that best suits us but, no, we won't be selling a player to pay for it.

"If anything, we're doing it to support investment in the team.

"Obviously, there'll be a period where we have to pay for this thing but again it's been designed to make this happen as quickly as possible and the core reason for doing it is to support the core finances overall.

WE WON'T STOP SPENDING: Liverpool managing director Ian Ayres has insisted that the redevelopment of Anfield won't stop the Reds from spending big in the transfer market [GETTY]

“So at the time that we have to start paying for it we'll find the solution that best suits us but, no, we won't be selling a player to pay for it”

Ian Ayre

"Again, the ownership has proved that it has reinvested every penny back into the football club and into the team and the plan for this is to continue in that vein."

Boss Brendan Rodgers has already been promised £60m to spend this summer in a bid to prove their title charge this season is no flash in the pan.

Work will commence as soon as planning permission is granted and the club are hopeful it will be completed by the summer of 2016.

The stand will be similar in size to the towering Sir Alex Ferguson Stand - formerly the North Stand - at Manchester United's Old Trafford.

It will hugely improve the club's corporate facilities which will increase income and bring league leaders Liverpool closer to the likes of Arsenal in terms of match-day turnover.

The stand will remain fully open throughout the redevelopment with capacity at Anfield only marginally reduced at times.